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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- New Utah State football coach Gary Andersen will get one final game as Utah's defensive coordinator.
Andersen and Utes coach Kyle Whittingham met Friday and agreed on a plan that would allow Andersen to be on the seventh-ranked Utes' sideline when they play in their bowl game. The Utes (12-0) will learn their postseason destination when the Bowl Championship Series pairings are announced Sunday.
Whittingham says he will share the game planning responsibilities while Andersen settles into his new job at Utah State, which he accepted Thursday.
Here is a statement issued by Whittingham Friday afternoon:
"After meeting with Gary this afternoon, we are in agreement that he will coach in the bowl game. However, given the obligations in his new coaching position, he and I will share the game planning responsibilities.
"We also received assurance today that both Kalani Sitake and Aaron Roderick are staying here at Utah. They are excellent young coaches and this is good news for our program. At this time, they will continue to serve in their current capacities (Sitake coaches the inside linebackers and Roderick the receivers). With the departure of our defensive coordinator and line coach (Andersen), there will obviously be some adjustments in coaching assignments in the near future."
The Utes had a similar situation the last time they went to a BCS game, when Urban Meyer was hired by Florida after the regular season but allowed to coach Utah in the Fiesta Bowl.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)